Overview
EN ISO 16321-2:2021 - Eye and face protection for occupational use, Part 2 - specifies additional material, design, performance and marking requirements for protectors used during welding and related techniques. It complements the general requirements given in ISO/EN ISO 16321‑1 and covers welding filters, welding helmets, hand shields, frames and mountings. The standard applies to workplace use, educational establishments and similar occupational‑type tasks (for example, do‑it‑yourself welding).
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard expands on specific aspects of welding protection, including:
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Welding filter requirements
- Transmittance requirements and scale numbers for dark shade selection
- Measurement of narrow‑angle scatter (reduced luminance coefficient)
- Robustness tests for unmounted filters (static load)
- Resistance to ultraviolet (UV) radiation
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Automatic (auto‑darkening) welding filters
- General design and performance requirements
- Luminous transmittance behaviour over time and variation limits
- Switching time and holding time requirements
- Manual override/dark shade control
- Resistance to thermal exposure
- Optional checks: optical sensitivity for arc detection and resistance to surface damage from fine particles
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Welding helmets, hand shields, frames and mountings
- Optical requirements for non‑filter areas and luminous reflectance
- Physical/mechanical requirements: protected area, light‑tightness, drop robustness, electrical insulation, penetration resistance by hot solids, dimensions and mass (for hand shields)
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Marking and information
- Mandatory and optional markings on filters and protectors
- Manufacturer information and user instructions required for safe selection and use
Applications and who uses this standard
EN ISO 16321-2:2021 is intended for:
- PPE manufacturers designing and testing welding helmets, auto‑darkening filters and hand shields
- Product certifiers and test laboratories performing conformity assessments
- Safety managers and procurement specialists specifying welding eye/face protection for industry, workshops and vocational training centres
- Occupational health & safety professionals ensuring compliance with PPE regulations (including reference to EU Regulation 2016/425 where applicable)
Practical benefits include improved protection against optical radiation (bright arcs), flying particles, impacts and hot solids during welding, consistent marking for user selection, and clear test criteria for performance and durability.
Related standards
- EN ISO 16321-1:2020 - General requirements for eye and face protectors (normative reference)
- Other referenced ISO/EN standards for optical and testing methods (e.g., ISO 4007, ISO 11664 series, ISO 18526 series) are used for specific test methods and definitions.
Keywords: EN ISO 16321-2:2021, welding eye protection, auto‑darkening filters, welding helmets standard, occupational PPE, welding hand shields, ISO 16321-1.
